Over the past two months, we have all have faced one of the biggest challenges of our century. The physicians and staff at Carson Tahoe Emergency Department and Minden Emergent Care are humbled by the love and support the community has shown us during these difficult times.

We asked you to stay home for us, and you did! Your actions flattened the curve, prevented our health care system from being overwhelmed, and saved lives. Our Physicians and Staff responded, too, showing up every day to care for our community and putting into place the processes needed to deal with this new disease.

Now we see a new challenge, one we didn’t expect. While some hotspots like New York are dealing with overflowing COVID cases, Emergency Departments across the country are relatively empty. Where are all the heart attacks, strokes, appendicitis, and kidney stones?

A recent study showed that in the past six weeks, the incidence of heart attacks has fallen by thirty-eight percent! We know we didn’t do anything to cure heart attacks. Instead, we’re concerned that fear of the virus has caused our patients to stay home, even in the face of worrisome symptoms that demand emergency treatment. This new “fear based” behavior is causing more harm than good as the health of those in need deteriorates.

At Carson Tahoe Health, we’ve taken the steps necessary and are prepared to treat COVID while still maintaining our ability to continue treating the everyday emergencies safely and effectively. We have constructed a military-style tent outside the hospital to screen and disposition patients with mild viral symptoms.

Additionally, we created negative pressure biocontainment units in the Emergency Department, Medical Oncology Department, and in the ICU which keep the virus from spreading. We frequently and thoroughly clean the entire facility. These actions allow us to separate any potential COVID patients away from other patients in the hospital. Every one of us at Carson Tahoe Health remains committed to taking every precaution necessary to ensure your safety.

There is no downplaying the effects of this pandemic on all of us. However, despite the tragedy, we remain optimistic that we will find a way past this together. In the interim, we will need to accept a new normal, one that allows our society to re-engage responsibly.

During this time, if you are feeling sick, please call your doctor. But if you have severe symptoms that worry you like chest pain, abdominal pain, or trouble breathing, please seek the help you need through the Emergency Department or Minden Emergent Care. We are available at all times to help get you well. We want to ensure that fear will not lead you to ignore severe symptoms and cause more significant problems down the road. We are here for you, we will take care of you, and we will keep you safe in the process.

— Writer Meg Jack, MD
 is Medical Director at Carson Tahoe Emergency Department, Carson Tahoe Emergency Physicians

Nevada is trying to conduct its June 9 primary election almost entirely by mail as a way to prevent the spread of COVID-19, with limited options to vote in person. Wayne Thorley, deputy secretary of state for elections, took questions from the public in a Facebook Live town hall on May 11.

Thorley oversees the elections division and is in charge of ensuring election laws are followed.

Below are his responses from the question-and-answer session, which have been lightly edited for clarity.

Why is this primary election being conducted by mail-in voting?

The secretary of state, in a partnership with the 17 county election officials, made the decision back in late March to conduct this election by all mail as a response to the emerging COVID-19 pandemic at the time. The secretary of state’s office and the counties work together cooperatively in all matters related to elections.

It was determined because of the unknown duration of the ongoing pandemic and the effect it was having on our ability to recruit all workers and identify polling locations that it would be best for everyone, it would be the most safe and secure method, to conduct this election by mail.

Many of our poll workers belong to groups that are at highest risk for the COVID 19 virus. So it’s just best for this election that if everyone could mail in their ballots; that’s the best way to keep yourself safe and to keep your neighbors safe.

We know that the mail in process is new for a lot of voters. Personally, I’ve never voted by mail before.

How does mail-in voting work?

It’s a simple five-step process. First you receive your ballot and open it. Read the instructions. All ballots will come with instructions.

Review and mark your ballot. Then, insert your ballot into the privacy sleeve, and then put it back into the ballot return envelope. Seal it, sign it, and then send it back to your county election official.

Every ballot comes with a postage prepaid ballot return envelope, and the ballot return envelope was also pre-addressed to your county election official.

So it really is as simple as marking your ballot. Putting it in your ballot return envelope, signing your ballot return envelope, and then sending it back to your county election official at no cost to you.

That’s important to remember — to sign your ballot return envelope. There’s a clearly identified spot on your ballot return envelope where you’ll sign the ballot.

We use that signature, once we get the ballot back, to match against the signature we have on file for you, to make sure to verify your identity and that it is actually you who voted that ballot. Once we get the ballots in, all ballots are scanned by a machine. We have scanners in all the counties that will scan your ballots.

If the machine can’t read your ballot, it kicks it out over to a bipartisan review team of what we call adjudicators. And they review your ballot to determine the voter’s intent.

What do you do if you make a mistake on your ballot or you fill it in incorrectly?

If you make a mistake and you vote for the incorrect candidate, you can simply cross out that selection and then clearly mark the candidate that you do intend to vote for. Do not use a whiteout or correction fluid or tape on your ballot. Just simply cross out the errant mark and clearly mark the candidate.

If you spill something on it or rip it, or you just simply misplace it, we can send you a replacement ballot. If you need a replacement ballot, you can contact your county election official and they will send you a replacement ballot.

You’ll need to do that by June 2, however. If you need a ballot after June 2, you’ll need to go vote in person at one of our in-person polling locations.

What does it mean to be an active registered voter?

For this election, we’ll be mailing ballots out to all active registered voters. In the case of Clark County, we’re also sending ballots out to inactive registered voters.

What’s the difference between an active and inactive registered voter?

An active registered voter is someone who has a verifiable mailing address. An inactive registered voter is somebody who we’re fairly confident has moved because we’ve either had election mail that was sent to that voter that was returned, or they did not respond to a mailer asking for a response.

Inactive voters are still registered voters and can vote in the election. You can easily check your registration status online on the secretary of state’s website for or for voter registration, which is registertovoteNV.gov and you can check your voter registration status. If you do need to make updates to your information such as your address, if you’ve moved recently or you’d like to change your party affiliation, you can do all of that online. Again, the website is www.registertovotenv.gov. If you do make changes, you have until midnight on May 21 to make changes to your ballot or to your voter registration and still receive a ballot in the mail.

If you make changes to your voter registration after May 21, you can still do the changes, but you’ll have to vote in person.

How are election officials working to ensure that there’s no voter fraud with the mail-in voting process?

There’s a multistep process that election officials use related to mail ballots to make sure that the ballot is actually cast by the voter that the ballot was sent to.

The first step that I mentioned previously is signature verification. All ballots must be returned in an authorized ballot return envelope, which has a spot for a signature. Ballots cannot be returned in just store-bought, blank white envelopes. It must be returned in the supplied ballot return envelope, and it must be signed.

We use the signature on the ballot return envelope to compare with signatures we have on file for the voter. It’s the same signature verification process as occurs in person.

There’s also barcodes on the ballot return envelopes and the ballot to make sure that we know where that ballot has been. If a person is issued more than one ballot — if a person needs to request a new ballot because the original ballot they were sent was lost or was damaged — we void out that ballot and then we reissue them a ballot.

And that ensures that nobody’s able to vote more than once in the election. So even if you receive more than one ballot, you can only vote one of those ballots.

How can voters verify that their voter registration is current?

The absolute best way to verify your voter registration status is to go online, to registertovotenv.gov. and check your status online. You can also call your county election official and they can look up your voter registration status for you.

Once you’re on registertovotenv.gov, you can make changes as needed to your voter registration. You can update your address if you’ve moved, you can update your party affiliation or make other changes.

There are a number of upcoming deadlines related to this election that everyone should be aware of. May 12 is the deadline to register to vote by mail or at a voter registration agency, such as the Department of Motor Vehicles.

If you’re registering to vote by mail, which is the traditional paper voter registration form, that must be postmarked by May 12.

However, May 12 is not your last day to register to vote. If you miss that deadline, you can still register to vote online through June 4.

And then if you miss the online voter registration deadline, you can also register to vote at the polling place on the day of the election or during early voting.

However, we encourage all voters to not wait until the last minute to register to vote or make changes. We encourage everyone to go online today.

When can a person return their ballot after they received it?

This is a question we’ve been getting a lot lately, simply because the mail ballot voting is new for so many voters in Nevada.

By now, all the counties have put their ballots in the mail. Most voters across the state have already received their ballot. If you have not received your ballot in the mail yet, give it a few more days. If you have not received your ballot by the end of the week, please contact your county election official.

But if you’ve already got your ballot and you are ready to vote your ballot, you can go ahead and mark your ballot, put it in the ballot return envelope and return it right away. You do not have to wait until closer to the election to return your ballot.

What are election officials doing to ensure that there won’t be ballot harvesting?

Ballot harvesting is when members of the community that aren’t election officials — so they can be a part of neighborhood associations, community groups, political parties — that when they go around gathering marked and voted ballots, and then returning them on the voter’s behalf. That is not allowed in Nevada.

It is against the law for anyone other than the voter themselves, to give their ballot either to an election official or to a family member that they’ve authorized. If you are unable to return your ballot by mail, and you are unable to return your ballot by yourself in person, you can give your ballot to an authorized family member to return on your behalf.

However, we encourage all voters to return their ballot by mail using the prepaid ballot return envelope. This is the absolute safest way to vote in this election to ensure that your neighbors, other voters and poll workers stay safe.

How do you know if your vote gets counted?

So you’ve marked your absentee or your mail ballot, you’ve put it in the ballot return envelope and put it in the mail. And now you want to know if it’s been received by your county and counted.

There are a couple of options. If you’re in Clark and Washoe County, you can go on to their websites and check your status through their voter services portal, and verify that your ballot has been received.

You can also call your county election official and they can let you know whether your ballot has been received or not.

Say that you forgot to sign your ballot return envelope. You will be contacted by your county and they will let you know what the issue is and give you an opportunity to correct that issue.

So if you have not heard from your county election official, then that means there was not an issue with your ballot.

Since we’re mailing everybody a ballot, will in-person voting still be available? And what will in-person voting be like?

Yes, in-person voting will be available for the June 9 primary election. In-person voting will also be available during the early voting period and on Election Day, which is June 9.

Early voting starts on May 23 and goes through June 5. Although in-person voting is available, we encourage everybody to vote by mail and use their prepaid ballot return envelope to cast their ballot. In-person voting really is designed for those that have no other option to participate in the election and need to vote in person.

The way in-person voting will work, for the vast majority of voters, it’ll be just like voting your mail ballot.

You will go to the polling place. They will issue you a paper ballot. You will mark your paper ballot, and then you will drop that ballot off in a ballot dropbox. There will not be voting machines in any of the counties except Washoe County.

Voters in Washoe County when they vote in person will use the voting machine that all voters in the state are used to. Voters in all the other counties, when they vote in person, it will be very similar to the mail-in process.

There’ll be a paper ballot that’ll be issued to you and you will mark that ballot and then drop it in the ballot box.

How will the polling locations be set up to ensure that people can vote while minimizing the risk of the spread of COVID- 19?

All the in-person polling locations will be set up in a way to maintain social distancing. And the election workers will also be utilizing personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves to keep themselves safe.

We encourage in-person voters to wear masks and to also practice good hygiene themselves by washing their hands, and hand sanitizer will be available. We will be cleaning hard surfaces frequently and disinfecting them.

Again, the best way to vote in this election, and the safest way to vote is by mail. You avoid any lines at the polling place, and you don’t potentially risk spreading COVID-19 or contracting the virus yourself.

The in-person process for most voters will be no different than the mail process. So if you’re looking for an alternative to the mail process, you won’t find that at in-person voting in any of the counties except in Washoe County. It’ll be the paper process.

How can voters with disabilities vote in this election?

The goal of all election officials is to make sure that all voters can vote independently and privately. However, we know some voters have difficulty hand-marking a paper ballot without assistance, and we want voters to be able to vote privately without assistance, if they so choose.

Voters with a disability can use our online ballot delivery tool to request and to receive and mark their ballot. And the way they do that is to go to our effective absentees system for elections, website or nvease.gov.

And voters with disability can receive and mark their ballot using our online ballot delivery portal.

When will election results be available?

On Election Night, we will post election results, but they will be partial and they will be incomplete.

We will post the election results that we have until that point, but we will still be counting ballots. The deadline to submit your mail ballot is June 9. As long as your ballot is postmarked by June 9, and received by election officials no more than a week after that, we will count your ballot.

So we will post election results on Election Night, but we will still be counting ballots — both the ballots that have been received to that point and ballots that will be coming in after Election Day.

And so it’s important to understand that the election results that we post will be updated and we will continue to update those daily in the seven to 10 days after the election until election results are final, and the counties have performed what’s called the canvass, which is simply the certification of election results.

The canvass of the election must take place no later than 10 days after the election. So it could take up to 10 days after the election to have final election results.

What that means is if there’s a close race, the outcome of that race will not be known until all ballots will be counted. Oftentimes people think that mail ballots are only counted if the election is close, which is a total myth.

We always count. We encourage patience among voters and candidates themselves as we count ballots. The paper ballot counting process takes a little bit longer than on the voting machines.

For more information on the mail-in voting process, visit www.mailitinnevada.com.

This story was used by permission of The Nevada Independent. Go here for this and other stories.

Two months ago, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office put out a press release regarding counterfeit Percocet pills be sold locally that actually contain fentanyl.

Over the past 72 hours, there have been three near fatal overdoses in Douglas County due to people ingesting these pills. DSCO patrol deputies quickly administering Naloxone, which counteracts the effects of opioids like fentanyl, to save the victims.

The pills can be either blue or white and have the letter “M” stamped on one side and the number “30” on the other side. Percocet is a prescription medication used to control moderate to severe pain and contains acetaminophen and oxycodone. The counterfeit pills are manufactured in clandestine laboratories and look just like actual Percocet pills.

Fentanyl is an extremely powerful opioid analgesic that is 100 times more potent than morphine. The fentanyl is also manufactured in clandestine laboratories. Miniscule amounts of the fentanyl are then mixed with some other substance and then formed into the counterfeit Percocet pills using a tablet press.

Fentanyl is so potent that 2 milligrams is considered a lethal dose. To put that in perspective, there are 28.3 grams in an ounce, 1 milligram is 1/1000th of a gram. The scales that drug traffickers use cannot weight these minute amounts, so the drug traffickers guess how much fentanyl to add to their pills. This results in a great number of these counterfeit pills containing lethal doses of fentanyl.

The counterfeit pills are being sold on the street as legitimate Percocet pills and may also be called beans, biscuits, treats, blues M-30’s or thirties. These drugs are popular with young adults who may think the pills are safe because they are sold as a prescription pill. Parents are urged to warn their teenage children about the extreme danger that these drugs pose.

CARSON CITY — Dr. Antonina Capurro, Nevada State Dental Health Officer, recently released a multifaceted and comprehensive plan to resume non-emergency dental procedures which has been approved by the Governors’ Medical Advisory Team and adopted as regulation by the Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners.

While treatment of patients for emergency services has continued throughout Nevada’s COVID-19 response, many dental procedures had been proactively suspended to protect patient and employee health and safety.

On April 28, Governor Steve Sisolak announced that some medical and dental procedures would resume through a phased-in approach. It is anticipated this limited level of service will continue through Phase 1 with the state monitoring the evolving COVID-19 situation. At this time, postponement of elective dental procedures will continue for public health and safety.

Dr. Capurro, in coordination with the Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners, has published a memorandum outlining the dental procedures that may be completed during this phase, infection control and personal protective equipment (PPE) protocols, social distancing actions and employee safeguards. Go here to read the memorandum.

Additionally, on May 4 a letter was sent to the Nevada Dental Hygienist Association to provide answers to questions raised during the Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners’ April 30 meeting.

Dr. Capurro has called upon the Nevada Dental Association and Nevada Dental Hygienist Association to continue to foster open lines of communication and collaboration as the phase-in plan begins and the dental team works together to safely provide oral health care for all Nevadans.

Both documents can be found on the Oral Health Program page at http://dpbh.nv.gov/Programs/OH/OH-Home/
More information on Nevada’s COVID-19 response can be found at https://nvhealthresponse.nv.gov/

Due to casinos being closed, Max Casino in Carson City has asked organizers of the Carson City Thursday Cruise to cancel its June 4 car show. The next Thursday Night Cruise will be June 11 at Battle Born Harley in Carson City. If the casino restriction is lifted, and Max Casino opens before June 4, plans will be revisited for the car show.

Carson City Public Works will be performing water system adjustments the morning of Thursday, May 14. There is potential for temporary periods of discolored water in the South Carson Street, Curry Street area south of 10th Street and north of Colorado Street as well as in Lake Glen Manor.

The discoloration is caused by naturally occurring minerals which accumulate in our water system; it is not harmful. Please avoid washing light colored laundry if your water is discolored.

Any discoloration is expected to clear up in a few hours. Additionally, customers in the affected area may notice fluctuating and low pressures over the course of the next few weeks. If you have any questions or concerns, call 887-2355.

The Carson City, Quad-County Emergency Operations is reporting Wednesday, May 13, there is one new positive case and two recoveries of COVID-19 in the Quad-County region. This brings the total number of cases to 128, with 86 recoveries and two deaths, 40 cases remain active.

The new case is:
— A male Lyon County resident in his 60’s

Carson City Health and Human Services is working to identify close risk contacts to prevent further spread of the disease. Due to medical privacy requirements and to protect their identity, no further information about the case will be released.

Carson City
-58 Total
-13 Active
-43 Recovered
-2 Deaths

Douglas County
-24 Total
-4 Active
-20 Recovered

Lyon County
-46 Total
-23 Active
-23 Recovered

Storey County
-0 Cases

TOTAL
-128 Total Cases
-40 Active
-86 Recovered
-2 Deaths
-3 Hospitalizations

Gender and age break down of the cases by county is available at https://gethealthycarsoncity.org/novel-coronavirus-2019/

Statewide numbers can be found at the Nevada Health Response website: https://nvhealthresponse.nv.gov

Community-Based COVID-19 Testing for Those Without Symptoms
— 1,798 Individuals Tested
— 1,379 Results Received
— 1 Positive Test Results
— 1,378 Negative Test Results

The lab is experiencing a high volume of tests. Results from the asymptomatic community-based testing locations are taking longer than expected. CCHHS will contact those tested by phone when their results are available.
For those who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have questions, call the Quad-County COVID-19 Hotline 7 days a week, 8 am to 5 pm. Spanish speakers are available. The phone number is (775) 283-4789.

Stay informed. For updates and more information on COVID-19 visit https://gethealthycarsoncity.org/novel-coronavirus-2019/

While we all navigate through this challenging time, I'm happy to be reminded of what's important and learn from others.

I took my Mom, Christine Reed, recently to see her best friend, Lila Balardi, at the Cedar House care facility on Mountain Street in Carson City. Until recently they were neighbors as well. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the facility has a temporary "no visitor" rule in place.

These two rebels found a way around that.

The staff there know how long my mother and Lila have been friends and neighbors and how important it is for them to still be in touch with each other and so they helped me make it happen for them to be able to meet at the window and visit with each other.

Here they are giving each other goodbye "air smooches." Christine is 78. Lila just celebrated her 93rd birthday. Between the two they represent 171 years of awesomeness.

I just thought during this time it would be a great story to share, and the picture says so much. Something uplifting that we could all use in this time of daily sad news.

Another great deed: A huge thank you to Lisa Hollenbeck, the President of Cap City Passport Rotary Club and Joe Lushina, the President of Carson City Rotary Club for this kind and generous donation from our local Rotary Clubs.

These funds will help us to provide food at our three different food banks and our Carson City dining room, which has vastly increased in demand due to COVID-19.

The pandemic and the associated shutdown of businesses has been a challenge for the entire community. Thank you for caring about those in need.

Two men were arrested Wednesday on multiple drug charges including trafficking and conspiracy, according to a Carson City Sheriff's Office Special Enforcement Team report.

Arrested at a South Carson Street motel were Nicholas Tyler Whitton, 24, and Jeremiah Thomas Kelley, 37.

Whitton was arrested for suspicion of trafficking a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance (heroin), conspiracy to violation the uniform controlled substance act, possession of methamphetamine, misdemeanor possession of paraphernalia and a misdemeanor violation of suspended sentence warrant.

Kelley was arrested for suspicion of trafficking a controlled substance, conspiracy to violation the uniform controlled substance act, possession of a controlled substance (heroin) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to the arrest report, the Carson City Sheriff's SET received information that Whitton, who had an active arrest warrant, was actively selling methamphetamine, heroin and prescription pills inside a motel room.

The investigation led to a search warrant of the motel room, where Whitton was located and handcuffed. Inside the room officers observed drug paraphernalia. Deputies conducted the search of the room, and Whitton was advised of his Miranda rights, in which he stated he understood and agreed to speak. He told officers there would be less than a gram of heroin and methamphetamine in the room. He denied selling drugs to anyone.

Deputies searched the room and located the following items:
— A loaded hypodermic needle
— multiple pieces of foil with heroin residue
— multiple spoons with heroin residue
— baggie of methamphetamine with 4.2 grams of methamphetamine
— 3 baggies totaling 1.5 grams of methamphetamine. The report notes this type of packaging is common in the sale of drugs.

While searching the room, suspect Jeremiah Kelley approached the door and was met by deputies inside the room. The report states Kelley's name had been brought up as part of the investigation and linked to heroin sales.

He was asked why he was at Whitton's room. Kelley said he was bringing him a hoverboard. (A hoverboard was not in his possession.) A knife was identified in his pocket and he was detained, dropping a backpack he was carrying, to the ground. After interviewing him, he was arrested for drug possession charges after a baggie of heroin, which weighed 4.5 grams, was found in his pocket, the arrest report states.

The suspect advised he was at the motel room to obtain "clear" a street term for methamphetamine, from Whitton, according to the arrest report. Kelley also admitted he tells people where to obtain heroin and would often facilitate the sale of heroin with Whitton, the report states. A canine conducted a free air search of the backpack Kelley had and alerted positive.

SET required a telephonic search warrant of the backpack. The warrant was granted through a Carson City judge. Inside the backpack there were multiple hypodermic syringes, a digital scale, Q-tips, and a spoon with burn marks on it, commonly used for heroin injection.

Whitton was placed under arrest for controlled substance trafficking, conspiracy to violation the uniform controlled substance act, 2 counts of possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine and heroin) and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bail: $23,000

Kelley was placed under arrest for controlled substance trafficking, conspiracy to violation the uniform controlled substance act, possession of a controlled substance (heroin) and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bail: $21,000.

In other arrests:
— A 33-year-old man was arrested Wednesday for misdemeanor violation of suspended sentence warrant. Bail: $3,000.

All information for the crime log (unless otherwise noted) comes from the arrest reports supplied by the Carson City Sheriff's Office, and is considered by law to be public information. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The policy of Carson Now is to name anyone who is arrested for a felony offense.

Virginia City and parades are synonymous with each other. But how do you throw a parade during the age of social distancing and with many COVID-19 restrictions still in place? Easy. What is traditionally one of the largest parades for the historic town, the Memorial Day Parade, will turn into a cruise honoring our country’s fallen heroes.

While no one will be allowed to congregate along the boardwalk, everyone is encouraged to drive to Virginia City and participate in the cruise displaying their American pride and showing patriotic colors for all to see. The cruise starts at 12 p.m. Saturday, May 23, 2020.

“Parades are a big part of what we do on the Comstock and the idea of not having a Memorial Day parade, just wasn’t right,” Deny Dotson, tourism director for the Virginia City Tourism Commission, said. “Honoring those that gave the biggest sacrifice in the name of our freedom should never be put on hold or postponed. This cruise format, that is open to everyone, will allow us to remember what really matters most. Something we could all use during these times.”

Participants are encouraged to support the local merchants who have had to shutter their regular operations since March 18.

Visit online at https://visitvirginiacitynv.com/virginia-city-businesses-available/ for a complete list of businesses and direct links to restaurant menus to order grab-and-go in advance or after the cruise.

The cruise begins at 12 p.m. Participants line up starts at the Fourth Ward School, located at the junction of U.S. Routes 342 and 341 at C Street, and decorations are encouraged. No walking groups, spectators and passing out of candy is allowed.

For more information on the cruise or Virginia City, Nevada, visit visitvirginiacitynv.com or call Visit Virginia City at 775-847-7500.

Carson City Republican Women will hear candidates running for local offices in the June primary at their upcoming meeting Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at 12 noon.

At this virtual meeting, CCRW Club members will hear Lori Bagwell, candidate for Carson City Mayor and Day Williams and P.K. O'Neill running for the NV Assembly. These three candidates will be speaking and answering questions about their candidacy.

The goal of the Club is to keep our members and associate members informed and connected to the issues at hand. In these uncertain times of CDC guideline and gubernatorial edicts, these virtual meetings are our gift to our members.

Carson City Fire Department and sheriff's deputies responded Thursday afternoon to a vehicle crash near the intersection of South Carson and Koontz streets.

The collision was reported at 12:16 p.m. and involves 2 vehicles in the northbound lane. At least one person suffered injuries and was taken by ground ambulance to the hospital.

Traffic is being re-directed around the crash. Motorists can expect delays. The cause is under investigation.

Grocery shopping and produce safety have been concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Desert Farming Initiative, part of the University of Nevada, Reno Experiment Station, provides information to help producers and consumers minimize food-safety risks.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, many consumers have been grappling with how to balance the need for fresh food with the risks posed by grocery shopping. An additional concern amid the virus, is the health and safety of the workers who grow and process these foods, and those who staff our grocery stores. Nevada’s farm workers have continued to grow produce and devise innovative new avenues to get it to our tables, and stores have taken unprecedented measures to safely stay open.

Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports there is no evidence that COVID-19 is being transmitted by packaging or fresh food, the people growing, selling and shopping for it do face considerable risks. Below is some key guidance for fruit and vegetable growers, as well as consumers, to reduce exposure to COVID-19 during this trying time.

For fruit and vegetable growers:
Implement on-farm social distancing and hygiene practices — Because this virus is primarily spread by person-to-person contact, social distancing is the most important defense on the farm. Follow scheduling, barrier, handwashing and shared-equipment-use practices recommended by the CDC, Produce Safety Alliance and Nevada Department of Agriculture. Monitor farm staff for illness and post reminders about COVID-19 prevention measures on the farm.

Clean and disinfect high-touch and food contact surfaces on a frequent schedule, including farm tools, equipment and facilities. The Environmental Protection Agency is maintaining a list of sanitizers that are effective against COVID-19, and California Certified Organic Farmers offers guidance on using sanitizers on organic operations. Make sure to use cleaners and disinfectants according to instructions on the label and do not mix them.

Ensure that any packaging used for food transport is clean and protected from contamination. Make sure wash, pack and delivery workers are following COVID-19 health and hygiene practices and that vehicles are disinfected before every delivery. Note that cardboard and wax boxes cannot be cleaned and sanitized in general, and reuse of packaging is of heightened concern during this pandemic.

Have a farm food-safety plan in place. See Food Safety Modernization Act and Good Agricultural Practices standards. Comprehensive food-safety procedures are proven to reduce the risks of contamination in general. Ensure all farm workers understand and are trained on safe produce handling and additional COVID-19 measures.
​​​​​​​
For fresh produce consumers:
Limit your trips to the grocery store or market, maintain social distance and wear a mask. All of these practices that have become so familiar in the past couple of months do reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure to you and the people around you.

Wash hands often. This is the simplest and most effective action you can take. Wash hands for 20 seconds before and after shopping and handling food.

Rinse fruit and vegetables under clean running water and scrub with a brush if necessary. This is a general food-safety practice that is always a good idea. Do not use soaps, sanitizers or disinfectants on fresh food at home, and follow standard safe food handling rules.

Finally, keep checking sources of credible and timely online food-safety information. The Food and Drug Administration, CDC, Produce Safety Alliance and Nevada Department of Agriculture offer guidance for producers and consumers regarding COVID-19 and food-safety risks. Be aware of this guidance so that you can observe whether your local store and other sources of fresh food are properly managing risks and stay up to date with practices for your home.

The science around COVID-19 and food safety in general is evolving. The Desert Farming Initiative is a statewide resource for produce safety, including offering help with on-farm food-safety planning, and can direct you to credible resources for answers to your questions. The Initiative’s Food Safety Program also provides safety checklists and a short film about the steps being taken by Nevada farms to prevent food contamination and illness. Growers or others wanting information on produce safety can contact Moe at jmoe@unr.edu, or connect on the Desert Farming Initiative Facebook page at facebook.com/DesertFarmingInitiative.

— Writer Jill Moe is the education program coordinator and produce safety specialist at the Desert Farming Initiative, a program within the University’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources.

In the famous words of the great Dr. Seuss, “You have brains in your head, and feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” The Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada, came to a cross roads in mid-March and has taken a stand and shifted to the direction they choose!

In response to the worldwide shut down the Museums’ doors were locked and staff prepared for a temporary closure. What has come of it, has created a new energy and transformation of the Museum.

When asked to elaborate on these changes, Executive Director, Christine Brandon said, "We are doing a lot of remodeling, relocating, refurbishing, updating, and deep cleaning. This is an inside out change going on here," she said. "We're simplifying everything and cleaning things up. Tactile learning is what it’s all about, an interactive, hands-on focus will be felt throughout the entire museum."

The Museum is making no income without admissions and yet, Brandon and the Museum’s Board of Directors, with Jennifer Merideth at the helm, chose to make the very best of their time to focus on key projects and to rebranding the community non- profit.

The feeling of the Museum has a surge of excitement, enthusiasm, and is eagerly waiting for all of the children and families to return and have hands on fun in a welcoming environment for kids to ... be KIDS!

With change comes expense. Without admissions the Museum is relying solely on volunteers, grants, and donations.

Board President Merideth said, "This is a true community-based organization." What CMNN really needs right now, in lieu of absent admissions and memberships, are donations. Small or large, any amount helps this treasured place to continue to serve the children of our region.”

Merideth went on to say, "I know there are people in this community who love this Museum, and they may not fully understand the financial position that the Museum is in, or what it takes to run this giant building. That's why we hope to encourage the community to take a second look."

The team comprised of, Executive Director, Christine Brandon, the museum staff, and the Board of Directors is also working hard to raise additional funding with an online fundraiser at:

https://tsi.getchaos.com/t/children-s-museum-of-northern-nevada featuring merchandise for all sizes, with the new branded logo. Ten dollars of every item purchased comes directly back to the Museum.

Donations can be made by going online to www.cmnn.org or writing to: The Children's Museum of Northern Nevada, 813 N. Carson Street, Carson City, NV 89701. Also call 775-884-2226 or email fundraising@cmnn.org if you're interested in donating time as a volunteer. In addition, a fundraising event, The first annual Pure Imagination Gala, is scheduled for September 18, 2020 inside the Casino Fandango Ballroom in Carson City.

The event is Willie Wonka themed and will feature Jacques the Magician. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Cost is $50 per ticket.

Farmers Insurance District office in Carson City has partnered with L.A. Bakery to bring treats to Carson City “Heroes on the front line.” For the past several weeks deliveries have been made to fire stations, Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center and the Carson City Sheriff's Office.

This has been sponsored by Farmers agents Robert Autre, Cecilia Orona, Kaitlin Czarnecki, Jeffrey Brooks, Shelley Bonkowski and Daniel McCraw along with District Manager Brian Andrews.

Pictured is a delivery to the Carson City Fire Department on South Stewart Street.

Listen, if you live in Nevada, you live in rattlesnake territory. Does that mean you can't leave your house for fear of being bitten? Of course not! Especially because there might be a rattlesnake in your house right now, watching you, so whether you're inside or not makes no difference. However, you can avoid getting bitten with these 10 tips on rattlesnake awareness.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, approximately 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes in the U.S. each year, resulting in between 10 to 15 deaths. In the Silver State, we don’t have to worry about many of the venomous snakes found in the eastern or southern U.S., but we do have our local rattling reptiles to worry about.

Most bites occur throughout the warm seasons when both rattlesnakes and humans are at their most active outdoors.

For the most part, all snakes will try to avoid humans and will only strike when threatened or surprised. The best way to avoid a bite is to make yourself known, keep a good lookout nearby, and give them space if you encounter one.

Here are some tips to avoid any bites for you and your family during rattlesnake season:

1. Don’t touch the snakes

Most snake bites occur when a person attempts to either kill or capture a snake. Dead snakes can still bite due to their reflex action.

2. Know when to give them space

During the Spring and Fall, snakes are often slithering around in the middle of the day because temperatures are more comfortable. During the summertime heat though, they’ll either be seen in early morning or in the evening. During the hot parts of the day, snakes will seek shelter, whether it be in a hollowed log, within tall grass, under a propane tank, or curled up in an overturned bucket on your porch.

3. Protect your pets

Rattlesnake bites occur more often in dogs than in humans, and for good reason. Dogs are low to the ground and extremely curious about things that rustle in the bushes. Luckily there are many rattlesnake avoidance training classes in the Northern Nevada area to choose from. When in doubt, keep your dogs on leash when out in rattlesnake territory. They also make a rattlesnake vaccine for dogs now, and you can contact your local vet for more information.

4. Dress appropriately

Wear over-the-ankle hiking boots, thick socks and loose-fitting long pants when out hiking. Don’t go barefoot or wear sandals in wild areas. This is also good advice for avoiding the dreadful goat-heads, which are far more prevalent than rattlesnakes.

5. Don’t put your limbs where you can’t see them.

This is probably just good advice year round. Keep your hands and feet where you can see them. Teach your kids that while that dark spooky hole does look inviting, it’s probably not the best idea to go digging in it. This goes for crevices within rocks, inside logs, or any dark and mysterious hiding hole.

6. Listen and freeze

If you hear a rattle (though it sounds more like a sprinkler than a baby rattle), stop what you’re doing immediately and look around your feet. If you do not immediately see the snake, walk back the way you came. One sure fire way of being bitten is by stepping on a rattle snake without being aware. This is also a good reason to keep one earbud out while listening to music or podcasts while out in the wild.

7. Don’t grab sticks or branches from streams or creeks.

Contrary to popular belief, rattlesnakes can and do swim. What you might think is a lone stick or branch floating down a creek could very well be a snake and if you grab it willy-nilly they’ll react defensively.

8. If you’re bitten, don’t suck out then poison. You’ll hurt yourself.

If you’re bitten, keep your mouth away from the injection site. Realistically keep everything away from it, including ice or tourniquets. According to the USDA, most amputations or other serious results of a snakebite are a result of icing or applying a tourniquet. Don’t cut into the wound with a knife. If you’re bitten, stay calm and try to keep your heart rate down and call 911. If possible, you can wash the area gently with soap and water. Remove any jewelry such as watches, rings, or bracelets that may constrict swelling in the body. Try to keep the bite wound below the heart and keep it still.

9. Bring a snake kit with you

There are now many snake bite kits you can purchase over-the-counter that are generally light weight and easy to pack that will help you in the case of an emergency where getting to a hospital could take some time. They generally include an extraction pump to help remove venom from the skin, suction cups, antiseptic wipes, and bandages, among other first-aid items. These can’t be used on their own without medical intervention, but it will buy you time while you get to a hospital.

10. Most importantly, know your snakes!

The friendly gopher snake is often confused for a rattlesnake, and it’s no wonder; the gopher snake has actually evolved to mimic and look like a rattlesnake for better protection against predators. They even curl up and snake their non-rattled tails and hiss loudly to give the impression of a rattlesnake. However, gopher snakes are our friends and actively compete for resources against the rattlesnakes. If you have a gopher snake in your yard, it will keep rattlesnakes away.

Not only that, they eat garden pests such as mice, gophers, ground squirrels, and more, which are known to spread diseases. The easiest way to tell the difference between a gopher snake and a rattlesnake is in the head. Rattlesnakes, like most venomous pit vipers, have a triangle shaped head, while gopher snakes have an oval shaped head. Rattlesnakes’s bodies are matte and dull while gopher snakes are glossy. Rattlesnakes tail’s end bluntly with one or more rattles (except for young rattlesnakes which may have not grown them yet). So just remember: triangle head, non-glossy body, blunt rattled tail.

I don’t need to tell anyone reading this that these are difficult times, to say the least, and it will require the continued collective effort of all of us to ensure the health of our community and to safely reopen our Carson City economy. Make no mistake, your efforts are making a positive difference.

On behalf of the community of Carson City I want to take this opportunity to thank our citizens and businesses for your diligence in staying home and practicing social distancing in order to achieve Phase 1 for the reopening of Carson City and the State of Nevada. I especially want to thank our Carson City employees, fire and police, and our dedicated health care professionals who continued to work through the shut-down, sometimes at great risk to their health and safety.

As many are aware, on May 7th, Governor Sisolak announced the release of Declaration of Emergency Directive #018, initiating the reopening of businesses in accordance with the adoption of procedures compiled based on guidance from the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration, Nevada OSHA, and other relevant agencies.

The Phase 1 standards require occupancy limitations, six feet of social distancing, continuous sanitization of regularly used equipment, personal protective equipment for employees, and other requirements for non-essential businesses to open or continue operations during Phase 1.

The Industry Specific Guidance and General Guidance documents are available online at nvhealthresponse.nv.gov. These health and safety practices are essential for our community to proceed on the road ahead.

Carson City will follow the statewide guidance rather than enacting local guidelines incorporating additional requirements. If you have specific questions about occupancy limits, please call Carson City Fire Department at (775) 887-2210 or email James Wentworth with the Carson City Building Department at jwentworth@carson.org. For any health related or testing questions, please call Carson City Health and Human Services at 775-283-4789.

In order to meet the State requirements, many of our local businesses have adjusted their operations to offer curbside pick-up, delivery, and arranging appointments for services.

Local businesses have devoted many hours altering their facilities, training employees, and adjusting schedules. Our community relies heavily on the commitment of these businesses adhering to safety practices. And while they creatively plan for ways to serve their customers, I want to remind us all that we, as neighbors, family, friends and other communities, need to remain diligent in our efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

I encourage Carson City residents to support our local businesses as they make their way through this transition; however, please maintain social distancing and wear face coverings while in public areas. It is critical for individuals to be motivated to protect one another from exposure.

Those wearing masks, washing hands, and social distancing are doing so with consideration not only to their own health but the health of others. This honorable exercise of caution will place us on a favorable trajectory. Those who are vulnerable should continue to stay home. Additionally, please be patient while receiving services as businesses are responding to the new guidelines with great urgency.

I am also pleased to announce that Carson City public offices are implementing appropriate measures to reopen to the public. City offices are implementing the same standards as Carson City’s businesses. City facilities have installed plexiglass coverings, employees will be routinely cleaning and disinfecting workspace areas and equipment.

Our employees are committed to keeping citizens safe by encouraging social distancing whenever possible. Carson City employees who will be engaging with the public will be wearing face coverings and we ask that the public do the same. Shortly we will be announcing office hours and any restrictions.

Once again, thank all of you for the efforts you have made during this unprecedented time. As a City we have faced economic challenges before. Together, working as one community and in one direction, we will restore Carson City to the community we all love and are proud to call home!

Stay Strong Carson City! – Mayor Bob Crowell

Here is the YouTube video of Mayor Crowell's message: https://youtu.be/8tu41YyZp7M

Shortly after Animal Control Officers contacted Public Works for the removal of a storm drain inlet. Tiearney arrived on scene removed the drain inlet and assisted Nevada Humane Society in their duckling rescue.

Thank you to the observant resident who reported the incident to NHS and thank you NHS for your continuous efforts in protecting our neighborhood animals. If you come across a duck in distress near a storm drain please check the drain for quacking sounds.

If you hear ducklings please call Nevada Humane Society in Carson City at (775) 887-2171.

See a video of the rescue below.

State officials say they will start accepting applications on Saturday for a highly anticipated program that will offer unemployment benefits to independent contractors, self-employed people and gig workers.

Heather Korbulic, who became director of the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation about two weeks ago, made the announcement Thursday in a video press conference. The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program (PUA) was authorized by Congress in late March, but requires implementation of a separate technology module than the one behind the standard state unemployment system.

Claimants can file the claims at www.employnv.gov, but the system will not be functioning until Saturday. Questions about PUA can be directed to a new phone line that will go live Saturday: 1-800-603-9681.

Korbulic said a call center will be open both Saturday, May 16, and Sunday, May 17, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to handle what is expected to be a high volume of calls. Payments are expected to start flowing on or around May 23.

Gig workers, who were not eligible for unemployment benefits in the past because an employer had not been paying into the insurance system on their behalf, have been anxious for the implementation of the new program. Two people who are likely eligible for the program sued the agency earlier this week, seeking to compel the state to act more quickly.

Those who are likely eligible for the program include 1099 contract workers, those who did not work enough hours to earn standard unemployment benefits or were unemployed or going to start work but could not because of the pandemic. They must be able and available for work and have prior earnings in Nevada or a job offer to work in Nevada.

Filers need to submit a W-2 or 1099 form and documentation such as pay stubs, bank receipts or billing statements.

Benefit amounts range from $181 to $469 a week, and claims are backdated to the point of a person’s initial eligibility — as early as Jan. 27. Claimants may also be eligible for a $600-per-week benefit from the federal government on top of that amount.

Korbulic said her understanding is that people who are offered a job but refuse to go to work will not receive additional benefits, but that the state is assembling guidelines to help people understand the rules on that matter.

Staff from Alorica, a call center that has been handling general unemployment questions for the past few weeks, will stop that task effective at 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, and become the primary adjudicators of PUA claims this week.

It’s not clear how many Nevadans will be eligible for the program, but DETR Chief Economist David Schmidt said last week that it’s probably at least 70,000.

— This story is used with permission of The Nevada Independent. Go here for update to this and other stories.